District



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheep 1. T. H. MACDONALD.

COIN CONTROLLED GRAPHOPHO NE.

.Tnv 6707-071 .Patented May 18, 1897.

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(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 2.

- T. H. MACDONALD.

OOIN CONTROLLED GRAPHOPHONE.

No. 582,754 Patented May 18,1897.

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00m CONTROLLED GRAPHOPHONE. No. 582,754. Patented May 18, 1897.

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(No Model.) 4SheetsSheet 4.

T. H. MACDONALD.

OOIN CONTROLLED GRAPHOPHONE. No. 582,754. Patented May 18,1897

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lllll-llllll 'geously applied to a spring-motor.

UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

THOMAS H. MACDONALD, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THEAMERICAN GRAPHOPI-IONE COMPANY, OF \VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

COIN-CONTROLLED GRAPHOPHONE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 582,754, dated May 18,1897.

Application filed February 6, 1897- Serial No. 622,358. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I,THOMAS H. MAoDoNALD, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Graphophones,which improvements are fully set forth in the following specifica-'tion.

This invention has reference to mechanism for controlling the operationof a graphophone by deposit of a coin, though some of its features maybe applied to controlling apparatus other than graphophones. Its mainobject is to produce a simple and effective control mechanism not liablewith ordinary care to derangement and which can be advanta- By theimprovements hereinafter described the mechanism is much simplified inconstruction and greater certainty of action insured. In the use ofmechanism of this sort the following operations have to be performedupon the deposit of the proper coin: The motor is started and thecarriage of the reproducer engaged with the feed-screw. The reproduceris lowered into operative contact with the recordtablet. When thecarriage reaches the end of its travel, the motor is arrested, thereproducer raised, the carriage disengaged from the feed-screw andreturned to its normal position.

According to the present invention a springmotor is employed to operatethe graphophone, and this motor is provided with the usual crank-handlefor winding the spring. A locking device is also provided whereby theoperation of the crank-handle is prevented until by deposit of a coin inthe coin-chute the locking device is released. The user can now Wind thespring until the limit-stop is reached. One of the gears of the windingmechanism carries or actuates a device which, when the spring is wound,raises the lever employed on ordinary commercial graphophones to throwthe reproducer into and out of operative position and simultaneously toengage the carriage with or disengage it from the feed-screw. When thedevice (preferably a grooved or trough-shaped bar) which actuates saidlever is raised, it is caught by a suitable latch, and the latter isreleased by contact of the reproducer-carriage when the latter reachesthe end of its movement. The bar is now pulled down by a spring, raisingthe reproducer and disengaging the carriage, and the same movementapplies a brake to the motor. As the carriage is advanced by thefeed-screw it puts a spring under tension, which spring returns it toits normal position when disengaged from the feed-screw.

WVithin the principles of this invention the various parts may take manydifferent forms. The construction illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings is deemed the best, because it can be applied to ordinarygraphophones and spring-motors in common use without necessitating anymaterial change therein.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a graphophone provided withthe improved controlling mechanism. Fig. 2 is a front elevation. Fig. 3is an end elevation; and Fig.

fl: is a similar view, parts being broken away and other parts shown insection.

The graphophone shown is substantially like that illustrated in LettersPatent No. 569,290, dated October 13, 1896, and will not requireparticular description. The springmotor may likewise be of any approvedform. Its arbors are supported in brackets depending from a bed-plate Aof the machine. It is adapted to be wound by a crank-handle B throughpinions 12 13 and spur-gear 14, the latter being on the arbor 15, towhich the inner end of mainspring C is attached. Shaft 15 carries also aratchet-wheel 16, upon which normally rests by gravity a detent 17,pivoted to the bracket A. This detent normally locks the winding-gear.The rear end 18 of the detent or look is bifurcated and embraces.

the lower end of the coin-chute B. The weight of a coin on this'end ofthe detent tilts it to the position shown in full lines, Fig. 4,unlocking the winding-gear. The detent does not tilt far enough to dropthe coin, being arrested by contact of pin 19 on o the detent with theend of a pivoted stoparm 20, which is held by the tension of a spring21. This spring is strong enough to resist the weight of the coin andconsequently during the winding the parts remain in this position. Whenthe motor is running, the

stop-arm is lifted against the pressure of its spring, so that the coincan drop, as shown in full lines, Fig. 4, and the detent 17 return toits normal position. This operation is effected by a pin 25 on the largespur-gear 26, which receives motion from a pinion 27 on arbor 15.\Vheels 26 27 are so proportioned that the former makes but one turnduring the winding and unwinding of the spring. Arm carries a pivotedlug 28, which pin lifts and passes during the winding without disturbingthe arm. During the reverse movement pin 25 in passing the lug 28strikes the end thereof and lifts arm 20, permitting the detent to tiltfurther and drop the coin, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 4.

The number of turns of the mainspring in winding and unwinding islimited by the action of a wheel 30. This wheel has a series of teethextending part way round its periphery, one of which is engaged at eachturn of the arbor 15 by a pin 31 011 the face of gear 14:. The number ofthese teeth fixes the number of turns that can be given the spring,since when pin 31 encounters the continuous portion of the wheelmovement in that direction is arrested.

The driving-shaft 33 of the spring-motor is connected, as usual, by abelt 34 to a pulley on the mandrel-shaft 35 of the graphophone, and thelatter shaft communicates motion to the feed-screw 36 in the usual way.The feed-screw is as usual inclosed in the slidetube (1, upon whichslides the reproducer-earriage D, tube 61 being open on its under sideto permit engagement of the nut with the feed-screw, as well understood.

E represents the handle or device by which the reproducer F is movedinto or out of 0011- tact with the record-tablet G and the carriagesimultaneously engaged with or disengaged from the feed-screw. Theseparts are all well understood, and being, moreover, described in thepatent above referred to, call for no particular description.

The operations of the carriage D are effected through a tilting frameII, pivoted at 7t. The front bar h of this frame extends the entirelength of the travel of the reproducer-carriage. It is U-shaped incross-section, and the end of handle E extends into the recess. Hence bythe tilting of frame II the handle may be thrown up or down. The framehas an arm 71, extending downwardly through a slot in the bed-plate andinto the path of a pin 38 on the large spur-gear 26, pin 38 being on theopposite face to pin 25. As wheel 26 turns in winding the mainspring pin38 makes contact with arm 7L2, gradually tilting the frame II againstthe pressure of a special spring 7L2. This movement raises the bar 7Land with it the handle E, so that before the winding is arrested thereproducer F is lowered into operative contact with the record and itscarriage D connected with the feedscrew and ready to start. It isnecessary to provide means for keeping the frame H in this positionduring the whole time determined for the forward movement of the reproducer. This is effected by a spring-catch 7a in the form of a hub orboss attached to a rod it" by a set-screw 75", rod 7s being mounted toslide freely in a perforated stud m. Rod 7; carries another boss L loosethereon and attached to boss 7:" by a plate Between the boss 70 and studm is a spring k Catch 70 normally rests against the side of a finger71;, which is part of frame H; but when the latter is raised finger hmoves to one side of the catch and the latter springs in front of it,being actuated by spring 70. Frame II is thus kept in its elevatedposition, notwithstanding the withdrawal of pin 38, while the motor isunwinding. As the carriage D approaches the end of its forward movementit makes contact with the end of the rod 70 and pushes the latch 70 fromin front of finger h This releases frame II, which is immediately tiltedback to its former position by spring 7L3. This movement reverses thehandle E, lifting the reproducer and disengaging the carriage from thefeed-screw. \Vhen so disengaged, the spring M returns the carriage toits starting-point. A buffer 11 is provided to prevent undue shock uponthe return of I the carriage.

It is desirable to adjust the travel of the reproducer to the length ofthe sound-record at the time 011 the machine, these records being ofvariable length. To this end the pink can be adjusted with reference tothe catch is by loosening the set-screw 76, so that the pin can be setforward or back, as may be re- (fuired. After the carriage has returnedthe motor may run on until arrested by the stopwhecl 30, as alreadyexplained; but it is preferable to arrest the motor the moment thecarriage is released, and this is effected by the return movement of thebar 71/ of the frame II acting upon the usual brake-leverN of thespring-motor through a sliding frame H.

A flexible tube P runs from the reprod ucercarriage to an uprightsound-eonveyin g tube 1 with which the horn or bearing-tubes areconnected, as usual.

The operation will be readily understood. The user deposits the propercoin in the coinchuter It falls on the lock or detent 17 and tilts thelatter, unlocking the wimling-gear. The user now winds the spring-motoruntil the movement of the winding-gear is arrested by the stop-wheel 30.Frame ll has by this time been tilted and latched in its elevatedposition, so that the carriage is ready to start as soon as the userlets go of the crank-handle. The carriage runs the distance determinedby position of the latch-pin 76, upon reaching which latch 70 isactuated, releasing frame ll, which is immediately retracted by itsspring, raising the reproducer and disengaging its carriage from thefeed-screw, this movement of the frame also operating the The carriageis retracted by brake-lever.

its spring and the parts are all in position for i another operation. Itis understood that the mechanism is properly boxed, so that accesscannot be had to the working parts by unauthorized persons.

It will be evident that substantial parts of the control mechanismdescribed can be applied to motors other than spring-motors, althoughspecially adapted to the latter. It will also be evident thatmodifications may be made in the construction of different parts of themechanism without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with the mainspring of a spring-motor, and withapparatus driven thereby, of an arbor to which one end of saidmainspring is attached, winding-gear connectedwith said arbor andincluding a ratchetwheel, a coin-chute, and a detent normally lockingsaid wheel, but adapted to be disengaged by the deposit of a coin insaid chute, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the mainspring of a spring-motor, and withapparatus driven thereby, of an arbor to which one end of saidmainspring is attached, winding-gear connected with said arbor andincluding a ratchetwheel, a coin-chute, a detent normally looking saidwheel, but adapted to be disengaged by the deposit of a coin in saidchute, and a stop limiting the number of turns given said mainspring inwinding, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a spring-motor, and with a graphophone driventhereby, of a winding-gear for said motor,a coin-controlled lock forsaid winding-gear, starting mechanism for the graphophone, andconnections for operating said mechanism from said winding-gear,substantially as described.

4. The combination with a springmotor, and with a graphophone driventhereby, of a winding-gear for said motor, a coin-controlled lock forsaid winding-gear, starting mechanism for the graphophone, connectionsfor operating said mechanism from the windinggear, whereby thereproducer-carriage of the graphophone is connected with the motor whenwound, and means for disengaging and returning the reproducer-carriageon reaching the end of its advance movement, substantially as described.

5. In a coin-controlled graphophone, the combination with a motor, afeed-screw driven thereby, the reproducer carriage, and the handle forengaging said carriage with said feed-screw and for disengaging ittherefrom, of a movable frame controlling said handle, mechanismcontrolled by the deposit of a coin, for moving said frame in onedirection, means actuated by the reproducer-carriage on reaching the endof its forward movement for returning said frame to its normal position,and

means for returning the reproducer-carriage when disengaged from thefeed-screw, substantially as described.

6. In a graphophone, the combination with the m otor, the feed-screw,and the reproducercarriage, of coin-controlled mechanism for startingthe motor, connections operated upon the starting of the motor forengaging the carriage with the feed-screw, means operated by thecarriage on reaching the end of its forward movement for disengagingsaid carriage from the feed-screw, and a spring for returning thecarriage when disengaged, substantially as described.

7. In a coin-controlled graphophone, the combination with a motor, afeed-screw driven thereby, the reproducer carriage, and the handle forengaging said carriage with said feed-screw and for disengaging ittherefrom, of a movable frame controlling said handle, mechanismcontrolled by the deposit of a coin, for moving said frame in onedirection, means actuated by the reproducer-carriage on reaching the endof its forward movement for returning said frame to its normal position,means for returning the reproducer-carriage when disengaged from thefeed-screw, and 'a brake for arresting the motor operated by the returnmovement of said frame, substantially as described.

8. The combination with the motor, the feedscrew, thereproducer-carriage, and the handle for engaging the carriage with anddisengaging it from the feed-screw, of a movable frame controlling saidhandle, coin-controlled mechanism for moving said frame in the directionto engage the carriage with the feedscrew, a spring-latch for holdingthe frame in its operative position, said latch having a part acted uponby the carriage on reaching the end of its movement to disengage it fromsaid frame, and a spring for returning the frame and releasing thecarriage, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a spring-motor, of winding-gear therefor, acoin-chute, a latch for locking said winding-gear having an endprojecting into the chute, so that the weight of a coin tilts the latchand unlocks the driving-gear, a stop to prevent the latch tilting so faras to drop the coin, andconnections operated by said motor to removesaid stop and permit the dropping of the coin, substantially asdescribed.

10. In combination with the spring-motor and winding-gear, a lock forsaid gear adapted to be released by the deposit of a coin, a stopwheelhaving a series of teeth in part of its periphery, and a' pin on onevofthe wheels of the winding-gear for engaging at each turn one of theteeth of the stop-Wheel, substantially as described. I

' 11. The combination with the spring-motor, the feed-screw and thereproducer-carriage having a handle for connecting the carriage anddisconnecting it from the feed-screw, of

a tilting frame controlling said handle, coin- In testimony whereof Ihave signed this controlled Winding-gear for said motor,eonspecification in the presence of two snbscrib- Ic nections from saidWinding-gear to tilt said ing Witnesses.

flame so as to connect the ecuna e 1th the T. IL MACDONALD 5 feed-screw,means for dlsconnectlng the earriage from the feed-screw, and means forre- 111105503:

turning the carriage to its stnvrting-poin t, snb- ALICE I K EoU (1H,

stantially as described. L. GORDON.

